68 NEW HUMANISM

still conceived in terms oŁ a situation which has ceased
to exist. Capitalism is no longer a stable social order
claiming adherence on its own merits. In large parts of
the world, it has already collapsed, and almost every-
where it has lost its moral sanction. The consequent
social instability has created a new situation. On the
one hand, large masses of people affected by a sense of
insecurity have become more amenable to the appeal of
totalitarianism, whether in the name of the nation or
the class. They are prone to exchange their individu-
ality, their existence as free thinking beings, for the false
sense of security and power acquired by merging into a
collectivity. On the other hand, with the collapse of
capitalism, social leadership has gradually shifted from
the owners of capital to the leaders of successful politi-
cal parties. The result is the predominance of power-
politics, The process is aided by a third factor. With
the end of competitive capitalism, the doctrine of laisser
faire has been replaced by that of State planning.
Economic planning increases the scope and power of
the State. Those in control of the State are placed in
possession of a vast concentration of power. The prize
of power-politics is the establishment of a' formidable
dictatorship.

It is hardly an exaggeration to say that the era
of capitalism is giving place to the era of power-politics.
The political world is being polarised not between the
supporters and opponents of capitalism, but between
totalitarian forces thirsting for dictatorial power.
Whether thev emerge from the right or the left, Is im-